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Anime Expo® 2007 Announces Conference Key Note Speakers

Jun 15th 2007

Nation's Largest Convention Brings Industry Companies from Japan and the
U.S. Closer

Anaheim, California (June 15, 2007) — Individuals from both Japan and the
U.S. will take the stage as part of key note speeches and conference panels
at Anime Expo®'s Industry/Press only conferences during the highly
anticipated 2007 convention June 29-July 2 at the Long Beach Convention
Center. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org
.

Key note speeches will cover the environment of the anime/manga industry as
a whole in Japan and the U.S., how the environment in Japan could possibly
affect the U.S. and vice versa and how each companies are looking to adapt
to the changing environment.

Anime has defined itself as one of the fastest growing industries in the
U.S. With an increasing fan base that spans many age groups, companies must
not only meet the challenges of keeping pace with anime's expanding
popularity but also surmount the issues and barriers that continue to haunt
the industry. Professionals from six different companies will discuss a
variety of topics, such as: What strategies are companies utilizing to
manage the industry's popularity and growth (i.e. Anime theatrical
releases)? How is the industry coping with piracy (i.e. “Hong Kong”
region-free bootlegs and fansubs)? With fan base demographics dipping into
the pre-teens, does this impact purchasing power and sales? Given the large
number of titles currently being released, has the market become
over-saturated? In what ways does development of new Intellectual Properties
assist with growth and profit? What are the trends for the future of anime?
Where is the industry headed?

The popularity of manga continues to grow, and companies are now dealing
with new Intellectual Properties, including brands based in the U.S.
Professionals from a variety of companies will cover topics such as: What
are the future trends for manga? Where is the industry headed? With so many
titles currently being released, is the market over-saturated? Does having a
fan base that includes pre-teens impact purchasing power and sales? What can
publishing companies do to ensure their U.S. fan base continues spending
their money on US releases rather than downloading fan-translated manga from
the web? Does the capacity for consumers to read manga in large-chain
bookstores impact sales? What is the industry perspective on collectible
manga merchandise, with respect to supplemental revenue, branding, art books
and other items?

Anime and manga have infiltrated mainstream entertainment with major movie
releases, TV programming and even dedicated channels. As the success of each
entertainment silo begins to depend increasingly on the gains of others,
knowing how our potential partners think can only translate into better
business opportunities for all. Executives from the film, television, cable
and internet industries will discuss their interests and objectives with
respect to anime and manga. What are they looking for from their alliance
with the industry? How do anime and manga enhance their own brands? Where
are the untapped opportunities for collaboration? Are their efforts to
develop original and unique Intellectual Properties through early
collaboration? In what ways are their relationships with the anime and manga
industries enhancing their profits?

The stage is being set for massive change in technology, electronic
entertainment and licensing. New technologies, such as BluRay, have been
disrupting current business models and are creating entirely new ones in
their place. Mobile operators have aggressively pursued services and
channels, including games and programs, to boost data spending.
Cross-licensing, synchronized releases of products, combined with marketing
plans designed to leverage shared audiences, are rewriting the way companies
market properties, drive revenues and, most importantly, work in
partnerships with others. Mobile entertainment, product development, and
electronic entertainment executives discuss how their interests and
objectives dovetail with those of the anime and manga industries. What are
they looking for from their alliance with the growing industry? How do anime
and manga enhance their own brands? Where are the untapped opportunities for
collaboration? Are there efforts to develop original and unique Intellectual
Properties through early collaboration? How are these other industries
enhancing their profits by maximizing their relationship with the anime and
manga industries? As the success of each entertainment silo begins to depend
increasingly gains of others, knowing how our potential partners think can
only translate into better business opportunities for all.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Long Beach, California - Anime Expo®, the nation's largest
anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests
of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a
key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and
explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the
industry to conduct business. AX 2007 will be held June 29 – July 2, 2007 at
the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California. SPONSORS: ADV
Films, Bandai Entertainment, Copic Markers, Digital Manga, Gaia Online, Go!
Media, Infinity Studios, ImaginAsian TV (iaTV) and the Los Angeles Times.
More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public
about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate
communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more
popularly known by its entertainment property – Anime Expo®. More
information can be found at its website (www.spja.org).

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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